Granulomatous meningoencephalitis and blindness associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex infection in a senile female chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).

A 40-year old female chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) developed hyporexia, weight loss, followed by progressive and complete blindness. Tomography demonstrated an intracranial mass in the rostroventral brain involving the optic chiasm, with a presumptive diagnosis of neoplasm. However, histopathology revealed a granulomatous meningoencephalitis, and tissue samples tested positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Staphylococcus spp. as part of the microbiota and as opportunistic pathogen in free-ranging black-tuffed marmosets (Callithrix penicillata) from urban areas: Epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, and pathology.

BACKGROUND: Marmosets (Callithrix sp.), including black-tuffed marmosets (C. penicillata), are neotropical primates that can be highly adapted to urban environments, especially parks and forested areas near cities. Staphylococcus spp. are part of the microbiota of many different hosts and lead to opportunistic severe infection. Isolates from wild animals can be resistant to antimicrobial drugs. However, there are a few studies that evaluated Staphylococcus spp. in neotropical primates. The goal of this study was to evaluate Staphylococcus spp. isolated from free-ranging black-tuffed marmosets. METHODS: Marmosets were captured in six urban parks. After sedation, skin and rectal swabs and feces were sampled. Staphylococcus spp. isolates were identified by MALDI-ToF and their antimicrobial susceptibility was determined. RESULTS: Over 30% of captured individuals were positive for Staphylococcus spp., and S. aureus was the most isolated species followed by Mammaliicoccus (Staphylococcus) sciuri. With the exception of the marmoset subjected to necropsy, none of the other had lesions, which supports that notion that Staphylococcus spp. are members of the microbiota, but also opportunistic pathogens. Most isolates were susceptible to all antimicrobials tested; however, one isolate of S. epidermidis was resistant to multiple antimicrobials (penicillin, cefoxitin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, and erythromycin). We considered S. aureus as the main staphylococci to colonize black-tuffed marmosets. CONCLUSIONS: Black-tuffed marmosets can be colonized by several Staphylococcus species, most frequently by S. aureus, and the majority of isolates were sensible to the antimicrobials tested. One S. epidermidis isolate was considered multidrug resistant.

Chylothorax associated with pulmonary compressive atelectasis in an emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator).

Chylothorax is the accumulation of lymph in the thoracic cavity, and it has never been reported in neotropical primates. An emperor tamarin died and at necropsy chylothorax associated with pulmonary compressive atelectasis was diagnosed. Idiopathic chylothorax can be a cause of respiratory insufficiency and death in tamarins.

Genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in a lethal toxoplasmosis outbreak affecting captive howler monkeys (Alouatta sp.).

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease that affects humans and warm-blooded animals. This study describes an outbreak of toxoplasmosis in howler monkeys (Alouatta sp.) and survival of capuchins (Sapajus apella), under the same environmental conditions. METHODS: Howler monkeys were submitted to post-mortem examination. Tissue samples were processed to histopathology and immunohistochemistry to detect lesions and tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii. Tissue samples were also frozen and submitted to PCR and genotyping of T. gondii. RESULTS: Typical lesions were observed in several organs including the liver, lymph node, and brain, with intralesional cysts and tachyzoites of T. gondii demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. T. gondii genomic sequences were amplified by PCR, and genotyping characterized the same T. gondii clone in all howler monkeys. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the notion that some species of neotropical primates are highly susceptible to toxoplasmosis and the hypothesis that capuchins (S. apella) may be resistant.

ACUTE NECROTIZING AND EOSINOPHILIC MYOCARDITIS IN A CHIMPANZEE (PAN TROGLODYTES).

Cardiac disease is of importance in captive chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) health. Here we report an eosinophilic and necrotizing myocarditis in a 17-y-old chimpanzee with no previous history of cardiac disease that progressed to death within 48 h. Toxic and infectious causes were ruled out. The chimpanzee had eosinophilia at different occasions in previous years. The animal had a severe, diffuse, and acute monophasic necrotizing myocarditis, with a moderate lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate that was rich in eosinophils. Ante- and postmortem investigations are compatible with an unusual eosinophilic myocarditis with clinical evolution and morphology comparable with human eosinophilic myocarditis secondary to hypereosinophilic syndrome.